Chapter 6

The sun peaking through the cracks of the curtains woke Sarah. She kept her eyes trapped shut. No, don't open your eyes! That'll mean the dream is over and you will leave again. Back to your life of wishing and hoping. It was such a weird dream. I hated it because I was losing him but at the same time just being near him made me so happy. It felt so real this time! Then Sarah realized that she was laying in a bed that didn't quite feel like her own. She was also suddenly aware that she was laying on someone. Her eyes snapped open and onto Jareth's still sleeping form. Oh my god it wasn't a dream! I'm really here and he's right there and I was, and he was… Sarah jumped off the bed suddenly feeling that the closeness she was so comfortable with last night was not so appropriate now.

She could not believe she was back! In the Underground of all places, standing right next to Jareth in his bedroom. It was like everything she had ever wished was coming true and it was doing so all at such an alarming rate Sarah almost felt dizzy. She needed to slow herself down, a lot! You are thinking to far ahead Sarah. You only came last night because you were so happy to be coming back and you only slept in his bed because you were terrified that might have been the last time you were ever going to touch him, be close to him. You have to remember that he may not like you, hell hate you, for what you did. You have to take all this slowly or you are going to lose your mind! Just stop and focus on Jareth getting better! That's all that matters anyway.

Sarah sighed and walked over and sat in the chair she had pulled over the night before. She placed a hand on his head. His fever was gone and he was no longer sweating. He was breathing normally now as well. He seemed to have improved dramatically since the night before. Sarah had the sneaking suspicion that Jareth was going to be just fine. The thought made her smile. I knew nothing could hurt you. Well except…me.

She got up and went to fetch him another towel for his head. As she placed it on his forehead he stirred and tried to open his eyes. Sarah hoped he would but he merely fell back into a deep sleep. Sarah sighed. I hope you wake up sleeping beauty or else I'm afraid Hoggle will kill me for not curing you. He seems to think I am somehow able to save you. I don't know how, I'm just a human, but I'm going to do the best I truly can. She leaned in close to his ear. "I promise!"

There was a knock at the door and Hoggle came in carrying a tray full of food. He was shocked at Jareth's appearance. He seemed worlds better than he had last night. Maybe Sarah was the key to ending all of this death and destruction after all. "Sarah, I didn't mean to wake ya but I's brought ya some breakfast." Sarah's stomach grumbled in response.

"Thank you Hoggle, I'm starving." She grabbed a piece of toast and looked over at Jareth. "He seems to be faring much better don't you think?"

"Aye Sarah his royal spoiled pants is looking a lot better this morning," he grumped. Sarah laughed. If Hoggle was back to dissing Jareth he must think Jareth was going to be just fine. She sighed again. She wished his royal spoiled pants would wake up.

"It's cause o you e's doin better Sarah," Hoggle said very quietly. This bothered Sarah.

"I haven't done anything Hoggle. I've just… been here. He's getting better on his own and once he is I'll…" she stopped.

"You'll what Sarah," he asked. Sarah shrugged and walked over to stand over and look down on Jareth. She moved some stray, well abnormally stray, blonde hairs out of his face with her hand.

"I don't know I guess I'll leave Hoggle. I don't belong here and… and well he'll probably toss me into an oubliette when he wakes up anyway." Damn those tears, why must they always come!

"Sarah he wouldn't do that. He wouldn't hurt you like that." He was standing beside her now. Sarah sighed and stopped playing with Jareth's hair.

"But I hurt him Hoggle, I know I did! I saw it in his eyes when I said the words to go home. I was too young to recognize it then but as I got older I knew that's what I had done." The sad realization she had been trying to deny to herself for years, all the pent up bad feeling, were coming to the surface. "He hates me Hoggle, if he didn't he would've come to me or contacted me again. Nothing but silence for three years." She was crying again. Hoggle was dumb founded. Sarah sure cried a lot. He had to say something profound to make her understand.

"Sarah listen to me please. Sometimes Jareth is a low down, no good, spoiled brat of a being. But he was raised that way. One day maybe you should get him to tell you of his childhood. It isn't his fault he is the way he is and he hates that he has to appear that way. He never wanted to be King, he didn't want to rule at all. Jareth was always a free spirit and having to rule broke him. The regret over his lost dreams and the shear anger at his father for leaving him to take his place warped him inside. He became mean to overcome agony. Deep inside him there is still a loving person. And the last time you were here Sarah you brought that out of him. I am sure Sarah that of all things he does not hate you. And if you did hurt him he will forgive you."

Sarah was amazed. All of this coming from Hoggle? He seemed so in tune with her feelings and fears. Hell his voice even sounded different. He was almost a completely different person. "Hoggle you sound so different. Not like yourself at all. And how do you know all this personal stuff about Jareth?" Hoggle shuffled his feet looking very nervous again. After a long silence, his old accent returning, he gruffed,

"Underground's full of secrets, most of 'em best ya keep ya mouth shut." He turned towards the door. "I have to take care of some things while e's still out of it. You be ok 'ere by your lonesome for a while?" Sarah nodded and he left. I hope I didn't say anything that upset him. She looked around Jareth's room and spotted a book case. I wonder if Jareth has anything I can read while he sleeps? She strode over and browsed his selection. A few titles surprised her. He had quite a few fairy tales. Sleeping Beauty, Beauty And The Beast, Alice In Wonderland, all looked well read. A small red book popped out at her. She picked up an ancient copy of Labyrinth. Sarah smiled and took the book back to her chair. She had a plan of sorts.

"Jareth I'm going to read to you ok. I think you know this story." She opened the little red book and began reading. "Once upon a time there was a beautiful young woman whose stepmother always made her stay with the baby. The baby was a spoiled child who wanted everything for himself, and the young woman was practically a slave girl. But what no one knew was this: after her return from retrieving her brother from the Labyrinth, the girl had fallen madly in love with the amazing Goblin King. He had offered her her own dreams and his own heart and she now knew that he had always held hers. That there was no other she could ever love as much as she loved him and her heart broke more and more everyday since. And only he could heal her heart." Jareth mumbled something and Sarah jumped up and leaned over him to try and hear him.

"Yes Jareth what did you say? Please wake up!" Jareth just mumbled once more and rolled over on his side. Sarah sighed, saddened that her plan hadn't had the effect she hoped, but at least felt she was making progress. So she took to eating her breakfast and reading for the rest of the morning and afternoon.

***

Hoggle didn't return until lunch. Sarah heard him coming down the hallway along with several loud clasps and bangs. She opened the door to try to tell him to keep the noise down when she discovered what the racket was. Hoggle stood by the door with Ludo and Sir Didymus. The trio beamed up at her and Sarah ran over to them to scoop them all, well try anyway, into a enormous hug.

"Sir Didymus, Ludo, oh it's wonderful to see you all!"

"Well Sarah, when I left ya looked kinda sad so's I went and found these two loons for ya," Hoggle chimed in. He seemed content with his brilliant idea.

"Yes my lady, we could not just stand aside when Hoggle told us thoust was saddened," Didymus said, "we have come to comfort you!"

"Sarah sad. Ludo make Sarah happy," the big giant fluff ball piped. Sarah was so glad to see them. With them she felt safe and protected.

"Lady Sarah we would love it if thoust would accompany us to the dining hall for a bit of afternoon tea and lunch." He gestured down the hallway. As much as Sarah loved her friends and wanted to spend some quality time with them she felt her heart was somewhere else at the moment.

"Sir Didymus I would love to but I really think I should stay with Jareth in case he wakes up. It would be terrible if he woke up alone." She meant that in more ways than she let on. Beside her Hoggle couldn't help but smile. Jareth's stipulations were being met completely, she came of her own free will and she was staying on the same accord. He was beginning to think Sarah really cared for the brat King.

"I think that is a good idea Sarah. When e's back ter normal then we can catch up," he said rather pointedly.

"My lady I understand completely and I can think of no one better to take care of King in his time of need," Sir Didymus said and bowed really low and Sarah chuckled.

"It really is great to see you guys, I've missed you over the years. I've missed everyone here!" Ludo beamed up at her.

"Sarah home!" That made Sarah chuckle again. It was the truest thing she had heard in three years.

"Yes Ludo," she said, "I think I am."

***

Back in his chambers Jareth was waking from the greatest dream he had ever had. That was wonderful! She was here, she was here next to me! And she came to help me, to take care of me. She looked so sad when she thought I was slipping away from her. In my dreams she always cares, then I have to wake up to my ridiculous sham of a life and she's gone. My world is gone. She sang to me to I think. She sang our song. He sighed and stretched in his bed but did not open his eyes. He wanted to hold onto the dream as long as possible. A voice from the hallway made them snap open.

"Yes Ludo I think I am." That's impossible, but it sounded just like her Jareth. Damn it! Stop letting your hopes fly away with you, she's not here. Then he looked around his room. He saw the chair pulled up next to his bed. Sitting in it was a little red book. Jareth's hand trembled as he reached out and picked up his copy of The Labyrinth. The memory of her reading to him suddenly flashed into his mind. But what no one knew was this: after her return from retrieving her brother from the Labyrinth, the girl had fallen madly in love with the amazing Goblin King. That was what she had said he was sure of it! He was still trying to wrap his mind around the idea of what Sarah had said when the door to his chambers opened.

***

Sarah walked through the door to Jareth's chambers fully expecting to sit and read a good book for the duration of the day. Instead she was staring straight into the beautifully miss matched eyes of the Goblin King himself. He was sitting up in his bed clutching, seemingly for dear life, a little red book. Neither of them spoke. They just remained completely still, Jareth on the bed and Sarah with her hand on the door. He's alive! He's alive and awake and he's sitting right there! Since she had been so worried about him since her arrival the night before she hadn't actually given a lot of thought to what would happen once Jareth actually woke up. Now that he was fully conscious she had completely lost the ability to speak. Luckily he broke the silence for them.

"What a lovely and unexpected surprise to see you again Sarah." His voice was smooth but inside Jareth felt like an idiot. His kingly attire gone he was only dressed in his night clothes for god's sake. This was very awkward and he needed to get some kind of hold on the situation and fast. "Tell me, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Sarah merely stood her ground and didn't dare me an inch in any direction. He didn't seem overly glad she was there but he wasn't being mean either. She decided to keep it business like because she didn't know what else to do. By his tone her fears seemed to be reality. He was better, time for her to go.

"Hoggle came to me and told me you were very ill," she said as matter of factly as she could although she really felt like crying. "I merely wanted to help is all and Hoggle asked for my help. Now that you are well again I guess I shall be returning to the Aboveground." She turned on foot and started out the door, feeling her heart break as she did so. His voice caught her.

"Then I think a thank you is in order Sarah." His voice seemed a little more soft than it had before and it stopped her from leaving. She turned and he was getting out of the bed. She rolled her eyes and walked over to him.

"I think you should just rest Jareth, you've been very ill," she said pushing him down onto the bed. She immediately blushed a deep scarlet for several reasons. One she had called him by his name and two she had touched him and undermined his authority in a way. Surprisingly Jareth did as she had said.

This action also surprised Jareth himself. He was letting his guard down dramatically by not having complete control of the situation but he had seen how she reacted when he had tried to earlier and he now remembered her reactions from the past as well. Maybe the best approach is no approach. I should just let her go and try to act accordingly.

"I suppose you are right Sarah," he said with a smile then added, " I have to say you're as strong minded as ever." Sarah blushed again and failed to hide it horribly. Jareth loved it when she did that. She looks so… innocent like that. Though Jareth duly noted she was anything but. The years, if possible seemed to have made her even more gorgeous than before. He features were more refined and less child like and she had grown quite nicely into a terrific set of curves. Jareth was finding it hard to resist the urge to just reach out and take her in his arms but he had to show some kind of tact.

Sarah felt it was time to do something other than just blush embarrassingly. "Uh is there anything I can get you your highness? You haven't eaten in a while and I'm sure you're hungry." Damn why does he have look so sexy when he tilts his head like that! I wish he would just say something about the situation and save me from hanging here like and idiot!

"You can start," he said grinning, "by calling me Jareth. I will have none of this 'your highness' business do you understand?" Sarah nodded. Why oh why did she have to be so lost for words? She sure had a couple she wanted to use, three in particular. Jareth noticed she was uncomfortable. He had to do something to make her more at ease around him if he was ever going to win her over.

"Actually Sarah there is something I would like." He gauged her reaction before continuing. She seemed willing to listen. "I would love to get out of this bed," he raised a hand as she opened her mouth in protest, "I assure you I am very well rested. I've been out cold for nearly two days. I am fine."

Sarah wasn't so sure if that was a good idea. She sure did not want him ill again, she wasn't sure if she could bare it , but at the same time she felt the need to be up and moving. "What can I do for you Jareth?"

Oh Sarah there are quite a few things you could do for me. "First could you put this back onto the shelf for me?" Sarah just now noticed the little red book again and vaguely recalled her failed plan and for the umpteenth time blushed. She wondered momentarily if he had heard her little story. She took the book from him and placed it back onto it's spot on the shelf. Sarah, I really hope you know what you're getting into here. Your heart can't take much more abuse.

"Thank you Sarah, now," he stood up from the bed, Sarah had forgotten how tall he was, "a change of clothes and there is something I would really like to show you." Sarah nodded in acknowledgement and stepped outside the door to his chambers so he could change in private. As she waited the full power of the last five minutes hit her full on. She was there with Jareth and he seemed, if anything, grateful and appreciative, and dare she say it, happy to see her. She used the time alone to gather her bearings and try to come to her senses so when he took her to where ever he planned on taking her, she was surprised at how little she cared where, she would have something a lot cleverer to say rather than just nodding and blushing.

A/N: So it dawned on me as I was writing this how little I wrote Sarah's friends into this story. I will try to add them in a little more as the story moves on but you have to understand this is mainly about Sarah and Jareth's feelings for each other so thats predominately what I wrote about. And of course I didn't kill Jareth, seeing as how I probably would've shot myself if I had, so I hope everyone is happy with that. Once again I know it seems like the end but we are not there yet. I only ever planned for this to be a very short story so there was only a vague idea of where it was going but as I wrote the ideas kept coming. So I have expanded it and expect a fair few more chapters for this. I'd say in the realm of fifteen or so. There are still things left unsaid and many secrets to be revealed. So please keep tuning in and as usual the next chapter should be up in a few days. Thanks, please review! Jarethlover89